Battery life extender for portable lighting

ABSTRACT

A battery life extender for a portable lighting device employs a reconfigurable mechanism operable to selectively electrically isolate one or more batteries from a circuit having a parasitic power drain. For example, a lighting device includes a light generating element, at least one battery, a user operated switch configured to control delivery of electrical power from the at least one battery to the light generating element, and a housing assembly supporting the at least one battery and the light generating element. The user operated switch can impart a parasitic power drain. The housing assembly is reconfigurable to: (a) a first configuration in which the user operated switch is electrically connected to the at least one battery, and (b) a second configuration in which the at least one battery is electrically isolated and the at least one battery is retained by the housing assembly.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation-in-Part of International ApplicationNo. PCT/US2014/069599, filed Dec. 10, 2014, which application claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/915,072, filed on Dec.12, 2013, and also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 61/970,062, filed Mar. 25, 2014, the full disclosures of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Portable electrically powered devices such as flashlights are typicallybattery powered. In many instances, an extended period of time may passbetween usages of a battery powered device. Many battery powereddevices, however, may consume battery power at a low, even parasiticrate, even when not being used. For example, a flashlight may include anelectronic switch that consumes battery power at a parasitic rate evenwhen the flashlight is not being used. Although such a low rate ofconsumption of battery power may not significantly discharge thebatteries of a portable device over a short period of time, such aparasitic power drain over an extended period of time may discharge thebatteries enough to leave inadequate battery power to operate theportable device.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of some embodiments of theinvention in order to provide a basic understanding of the invention.This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is notintended to identify key/critical elements of the invention or todelineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to presentsome embodiments of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude tothe more detailed description that is presented later.

Approaches and devices for extending the life of batteries used to powerportable devices are provided. In many embodiments, a mechanism isprovided that is selectively reconfigurable between a firstconfiguration in which a power supply circuit of a portable device isnot interrupted and a second configuration in which the power supplycircuit of the portable device is interrupted so as to prevent dischargeof at least one battery used to power the portable device. The mechanismcan be reconfigured by a user of the portable device based upon whetherthe portable device may not be used for an extended period of time, orwhether the portable device is going to be used. For example, themechanism can be reconfigured from the first configuration to the secondconfiguration when the portable device may not be used for an extendedperiod of time. And the mechanism can be reconfigured from the secondconfiguration to the first configuration prior to use of the portabledevice. By having the mechanism in the second configuration when theportable device may not be used for an extended period of time,discharge of the at least one battery of the portable device during theextended period of time can be avoided.

In embodiments described herein, the portable battery powered devicesare flashlights. It should be understood, however, that the approachesand mechanisms described herein can be applied to other types ofportable battery powered devices. For example, the approaches andmechanisms described herein can be applied to other lighting devices(e.g., headlamps, lanterns, spotlights, etc.). Moreover, the approachesand mechanisms described herein can be applied to suitable batterypowered devices (e.g., any suitable fan, pump, radio, speaker, tool,etc.).

Thus, in one aspect, a lighting device is disclosed that includes amechanism that is selectively reconfigurable to prevent discharge ofbattery power. The lighting device includes a light generating element,at least one battery, a user operated switch, and a housing assembly.The user operated switch is configured to control delivery of electricalpower from the at least one battery to the light generating element. Thehousing assembly supports the at least one battery and the lightgenerating element. The housing assembly is reconfigurable to: (a) afirst configuration in which the user operated switch is electricallyconnected to the at least one battery, and (b) a second configuration inwhich the at least one battery is electrically isolated and the at leastone battery is retained by the housing assembly. In many embodiments,the user operated switch includes an electronic switch that consumespower when the housing assembly is in the first configuration.

In many embodiments of the lighting device, the housing assemblyincludes a first housing component and a second housing componentcoupled with the first component in each of the first and secondconfigurations. The second housing component is repositionable relativeto the first housing component to allow selective reconfiguration of thehousing assembly to each of the first and second configurations. Forexample, repositioning the second housing component relative to thefirst housing component to reconfigure the housing assembly to each ofthe first and second configurations can include rotating and/ortranslating the second housing component relative to the first housingcomponent.

The reconfiguration of the housing from the second configuration to thefirst configuration can result in relative translation between the firstand second housing components so as to electrically connect the useroperated switch with the at least one battery such that the useroperated switch is electrically connected with each of a positiveterminal of the at least one battery and a negative terminal of the atleast one battery. The relative translation between the first and secondhousing components can result in at least one of: (a) a housing positiveelectrical contact electrically connected to the user operated switch isplaced into electrical connection with the positive terminal of the atleast one battery; and (b) a housing negative electrical contactelectrically connected to the user operated switch is placed intoelectrical connection with the negative terminal of the at least onebattery. The relative translation between the first and second housingcomponents can result in translation of the at least one batteryrelative to the each of the first and second housing components.

The lighting device can include a deformable assembly that is used tointerrupt a power supply circuit in the lighting device. For example,the deformable assembly can be configured to: (a) apply a biasing forceto position the at least one battery relative to the housing assembly soas to prevent the housing negative electrical contact from being placedinto electrical connection with the negative terminal of the at leastone battery when the housing assembly is in the second configuration;and (b) deform when the housing assembly is reconfigured from the secondconfiguration to the first configuration so as to permit the housingnegative electrical contact being placed into electrical connection withthe negative terminal of the at least one battery. As another example,the deformable subassembly can be configured to: (a) apply a biasingforce to position the at least one battery relative to the housingassembly so as to prevent the housing positive electrical contact frombeing placed into electrical connection with the positive terminal ofthe at least one battery when the housing assembly is in the secondconfiguration; and (b) deform when the housing assembly is reconfiguredfrom the second configuration to the first configuration so as to permitthe housing positive electrical contact being placed into electricalconnection with the positive terminal of the at least one battery.

The lighting device can include a battery cartridge supporting the atleast one battery. The battery cartridge can include a cartridgepositive contact in electrical connection with the positive terminal ofthe at least one battery and a cartridge negative contact in electricalconnection with the negative terminal of the at least one battery. Therelative translation between the first and second housing components canresult in the housing positive contact being brought into contact withthe cartridge positive contact and the housing negative contact beingbrought into contact with the cartridge negative contact. Each of thecartridge positive and negative contacts can be disposed on a side ofthe battery cartridge that is substantially parallel to the relativetranslation between the first and second housing components. Thelighting device can include both the battery cartridge and thedeformable assembly. Each of the cartridge positive and negativecontacts can include a spring loaded assembly that accommodates a rangeof relative positions between the first and second housing componentswhile maintaining electrical connection between the at least one batteryand the user operated switch.

In many embodiments of the lighting device, the housing assembly isconfigured such that the second housing component is rotatable relativeto the first housing component about a rotational axis. The housingassembly can include at least one housing electrical contactelectrically connected with the user operated switch and radially offsetfrom the rotational axis. The at least one housing electrical contactcan be electrically isolated from the at least one battery when thehousing assembly is in the second configuration. The at least onehousing electrical contact can be electrically connected with the atleast one battery when the housing assembly is in the firstconfiguration.

In many embodiments of the lighting device, a visual indication isprovided that indicates the isolation status of the at least onebattery. For example, the lighting device can include an indicator thatis viewable by a user when the housing assembly is in the secondconfiguration.

In another aspect, a battery powered portable device includes a batterypowered portion, at least one battery, and electronic switch, a firsthousing portion, and a second housing portion. The electronic switch isconfigured to control delivery of electrical power from the at least onebattery to the battery powered portion. The electronic switch consumespower when electrically connected with the at least one battery. Thefirst housing portion is configured to at least partially house the atleast one battery. The second housing portion is coupled with the firsthousing portion via a threaded connection. The second housing portionincludes an electrical connection assembly that forms part of anelectrical connection between the at least one battery and theelectronic switch when the second housing portion is in a first positionrelative to the first housing portion and forms a break in theelectrical connection when the second housing portion is in a secondposition relative to the first housing portion. The second housingportion is closer to the first housing portion when in the secondposition relative to when in the first position.

In many embodiments, the electrical connection assembly includes a firstelectrical contact electrically connected to the electronic switch, asecond electrical contact electrically connected to the at least onebattery, and a deformable element. The deformable element biases thesecond electrical contact into contact with the first electrical contactwhen the second housing portion is in the first position relative to thefirst housing portion. The deformable element deforms in response torepositioning of the second housing portion into the second position soas to accommodate separation between the first and second electricalcontacts.

The electrical connection assembly can further include a conductivespring connected to the second electrical contact. The spring cancontact the at least one battery in each of the first and secondpositions of the second housing portion relative to the first housingportion.

In many embodiments, the deformable element includes a deformablematerial layer having a first side and a second side opposite to thefirst side. The first side can contact the second electrical contact.The second side can contact an end wall of the second housing portion.

In another aspect, a battery powered portable device includes a batterypowered portion, at least one battery, an electronic switch, and a useroperated mechanical switch. The electronic switch is configured tocontrol delivery of electrical power from the at least one battery tothe battery powered portion. The electronic switch consumes power whenelectrically connected with the at least one battery. The user operatedmechanical switch is operable to selectively electrically connect the atleast one battery to the electronic switch and to electrically isolatethe at least one battery from the electronic switch.

In another aspect, a lighting device includes a housing configured toaccommodate a battery assembly that includes one or more batteries, alight generating element supported by the housing, and a first switchingmechanism including an articulable positive contact and an articulablenegative contact. The first switching mechanism is configurable by auser to: (a) a first configuration in which the positive contactcontacts a positive terminal of the battery assembly, the negativecontact contacts a negative terminal of the battery assembly, and thelight generating element is electrically coupled with the articulablepositive contact and the articulable negative contact to receiveelectric power from the battery assembly to generate light; and (b) asecond configuration in which the positive contact is separated from thepositive terminal and the negative contact is separated from thenegative terminal to electrically isolate the battery assembly.

In many embodiments, the lighting device further includes a control unitoperatively coupled with the light generating element. The control unitcan be configured to control supply of electrical power to the lightgenerating element to operate the light generating element in a firstoperational mode when the first switching mechanism is in the firstconfiguration. In many embodiments, the first switching mechanism isconfigurable by the user to a third configuration in which thearticulable positive contact contacts the positive terminal of thebattery assembly, the articulable negative contact contacts the negativeterminal of the battery assembly, and the light generating element iselectrically coupled with the articulable positive contact and thearticulable negative contact to receive electric power from the batteryassembly to generate light. The control unit can be configured tocontrol supply of electrical power to the light generating element tooperate the light generating element in a second operational mode whenthe first switching mechanism is in the third configuration. The secondoperational mode is different than the first operational mode.

In many embodiments, the lighting device further includes a secondswitching and a control unit. The second switching mechanism can beconfigured to be operable by the user to select an operational mode ofthe light generating element when the first switching mechanism is inthe first configuration. In many embodiments, the control unit isoperatively coupled with the light generating element and configured tocontrol supply of electrical power to the light generating element tooperate the light generating element in an operational mode selected bythe user via the second switching mechanism. The second switchingmechanism can have any suitable configuration. For example, the secondswitching mechanism can include a selection member that is rotatablerelative to the housing by the user to select the operational mode. Asanother example, the second switching mechanism can include a modeselection button operatively coupled with the control unit and operableby the user to cycle through a plurality of operational modes for thelight generating element. The first switching mechanism can beconfigured to block operation of the mode selection button by the userwhen in the second configuration and accommodate operation of the modeselection button by the user when in the first configuration.

In many embodiments of the lighting device, the battery assemblyincludes a battery cartridge configured to accommodate a plurality ofbatteries. In many embodiments, the battery cartridge includes thepositive terminal of the battery assembly, a positive voltage pathconfigured to electrically connect the positive terminal of the batteryassembly with a positive terminal of the plurality of batteries, thenegative terminal of the battery assembly, and a negative voltage pathconfigured to electrically connect the negative terminal of the batteryassembly with a negative terminal of the plurality of batteries. Thebattery cartridge can be configured to accommodate the plurality ofbatteries in a serially-connected configuration to generate a resultingvoltage used to operate the light generating element. The positiveterminal of the battery assembly and the negative terminal of thebattery assembly can be disposed at any suitable respective location(s)on the battery cartridge. For example, in many embodiments, the positiveterminal of the battery assembly and the negative terminal of thebattery assembly are disposed at one end of the battery cartridge.

In another aspect, a method is provided for electrically isolating abattery assembly of a lighting device to inhibit parasitic drain of thebattery assembly. The method includes maintaining contact between anarticulable positive contact and a positive terminal of the batteryassembly while a first user-operable switching mechanism of the lightingdevice is in a first configuration. The first user-operable switchingmechanism is drivingly coupled with the articulable positive contact.The articulable positive contact is electrically connected with a lightgenerating element of the lighting device. The method further includesmaintaining contact between an articulable negative contact and anegative terminal of the battery assembly while the first user-operableswitching mechanism is in the first configuration. The firstuser-operable switching mechanism is drivingly coupled with thearticulable negative contact. The articulable negative contact iselectrically connected with a light generating element of the lightingdevice. The method further includes separating the articulable positivecontact from the positive terminal of the battery assembly and thearticulable negative contact from the negative terminal of the batteryassembly to electrically isolate the battery assembly in response toreconfiguration of the first user-operable switching mechanism from thefirst configuration to a second configuration.

In many embodiments, the method further includes controlling, via acontrol unit included in the lighting device, supply of electrical powerto the light generating element to operate the light generating elementin a first operational mode when the first user-operable switchingmechanism is in the first configuration. The method can includecontrolling, via the control unit, supply of electrical power to thelight generating element to operate the light generating element in asecond operational mode when the first user-operable switching mechanismis in a third configuration in which the articulable positive contactcontacts a positive terminal of the battery assembly and the articulablenegative contact contacts a negative terminal of the battery assembly,the second operational mode being different from the first operationalmode.

In many embodiments, the method further includes controlling, via acontrol unit operatively coupled with a second user-operable switchingmechanism, supply of electrical power to the light generating element tooperate the light generating element in an operational mode selected viathe second user-operable switching mechanism. The method can furtherinclude outputting a signal from the second user-operable switchingmechanism to the control unit corresponding to a rotational orientationof a selection member of the second user-operable switching mechanism.In many embodiments, the outputted signal is indicative of the selectedoperational mode.

The second user-operable switching mechanism can include a modeselection button. The method can further include outputting a signalfrom the mode selection button to the control unit corresponding to aselected operational mode for operating the light generating element.The mode selection button can be configured to be operable to cyclethrough a plurality of operational modes for the light generatingelement. The method can include blocking operational access to the modeselection button when the first user-operable switching mechanism is inthe second configuration and accommodating operational access to themode selection button when the first user-operable switching mechanismis in the first configuration.

The method can further include accommodating a battery cartridge withinthe lighting device. The battery cartridge can be configured toaccommodate a plurality of batteries and include the positive terminalof the battery assembly and the negative terminal of the batteryassembly. The method can include electrically coupling the positiveterminal of the battery assembly with a positive terminal of theplurality of batteries and electrically coupling the negative terminalof the battery assembly with a negative terminal of the plurality ofbatteries. The battery cartridge housing can be configured toaccommodate the plurality of batteries in a serially-connectedconfiguration to generate a resulting voltage used to operate the lightgenerating element. The method can include supporting the positiveterminal of the battery assembly and the negative terminal of thebattery assembly at any suitable location on the battery cartridge. Forexample, the method can include supporting the positive terminal of thebattery assembly and the negative terminal of the battery assembly atone end of the battery cartridge.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and advantages of the presentinvention, reference should be made to the ensuing detailed descriptionand accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a flashlight including a battery life extending mechanism,in accordance with many embodiments.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the flashlight of FIG. 1 in aconfiguration in which batteries of the flashlight are electricallyisolated.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the flashlight of FIG. 1 in aconfiguration in which batteries of the flashlight are electricallyisolated.

FIG. 4 illustrates the flashlight of FIG. 1 in the configuration inwhich the batteries of the flashlight are electrically connected fordelivery of electrical power to operate the flashlight.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a flashlight, in accordance withmany embodiments, in a configuration in which both positive and negativeterminals of a battery stack are electrically isolated.

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the flashlight of FIG. 5 in aconfiguration in which both positive and negative terminals of thebattery stack are electrically connected for delivery of electricalpower.

FIG. 7 partially illustrates a flashlight that includes a user operatedmechanism operable to selectively connect and disconnect one or morebatteries of the flashlight, in accordance with many embodiments.

FIG. 8 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the flashlight of FIG. 7in a configuration in which a non-conducting member of the user operatedmechanism separates an electrical contact from a battery terminal.

FIG. 9 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the flashlight of FIG. 7in a configuration in which the non-conducting member of the useroperated mechanism does not separate the electrical contact from thebattery terminal.

FIG. 10 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a flashlight in aconfiguration in which a reconfigurable mechanism including a deformableelement forms part of an electrical connection for supplying batterypower, in accordance with many embodiments.

FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional view of the flashlight of FIG. 10 in aconfiguration in which the reconfigurable mechanism forms aninterruption in the electrical connection for supplying battery power.

FIG. 12 through FIG. 15 schematically illustrate the use of relativerotation between components of a portable device about an axis ofrotation to selectively connect and isolate battery terminals, inaccordance with many embodiments.

FIG. 16 shows a user worn headlamp including a battery life extendingmechanism, in accordance with many embodiments.

FIG. 17 shows a cross-sectional view of the headlamp of FIG. 16 in aconfiguration in which a battery cartridge of the flashlight iselectrically connected for delivery of electrical power to operate theheadlamp.

FIG. 18 shows a cross-sectional view of the headlamp of FIG. 16 in aconfiguration in which the battery cartridge of the headlamp areelectrically isolated.

FIG. 19 and FIG. 20 show simplified cross-sectional schematicillustrations of a flashlight that includes a user-operated switchingmechanism operable to electrically isolate a battery cartridge when theflashlight is off, in accordance with many embodiments.

FIG. 21 and FIG. 22 show simplified cross-sectional schematicillustrations of a flashlight that includes a user-operated switchingmechanism operable to electrically isolate a battery cartridge when theflashlight is off, in accordance with many embodiments.

FIG. 23 shows an exterior view of an embodiment of the flashlights ofFIG. 19, FIG. 20, FIG. 21, and FIG. 22.

FIG. 24, FIG. 25, and FIG. 26 show simplified cross-sectional schematicillustrations of a flashlight that includes a user-operated switchingmechanism operable to electrically isolate a battery cartridge when theflashlight is off and select an operational mode for the flashlight whenthe flashlight is on, in accordance with many embodiments.

FIG. 27 shows an exterior view of an embodiment of the flashlight ofFIG. 24, FIG. 25, and FIG. 26.

FIG. 28 and FIG. 29 show simplified cross-sectional schematicillustrations of a flashlight that includes a first user-operatedswitching mechanism operable to electrically isolate a battery cartridgewhen the flashlight is off and a second user-operable switchingmechanism operable to select an operational mode for the flashlight whenthe flashlight is on, in accordance with many embodiments.

FIG. 30 shows an exterior view of an embodiment of the flashlight ofFIG. 28 and FIG. 29.

FIG. 31 and FIG. 32 show simplified cross-sectional schematicillustrations of a flashlight that includes a user-operated switchingmechanism operable to electrically isolate a battery cartridge when theflashlight is off and a mode-selection button operable to select anoperational mode for the flashlight when the flashlight is on, inaccordance with many embodiments.

FIG. 33 shows an exterior view of an embodiment of the flashlight ofFIG. 31 and FIG. 32.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, various embodiments of the presentinvention will be described. For purposes of explanation, specificconfigurations and details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the embodiments. It will also be apparent to oneskilled in the art, however, that the present invention may be practicedwithout the specific details. Furthermore, well-known features may beomitted or simplified in order not to obscure the embodiment beingdescribed.

Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numeralsrepresent like parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 shows aflashlight 10 that includes a battery life extending mechanism 12, inaccordance with many embodiments. The flashlight 10 includes a lightgenerating element 14, a user operated switch 16, and a housing assembly18. The housing assembly 18 has an internal volume that accommodates abattery assembly including one or more batteries used to power theflashlight 10. In many embodiments, the user operated switch 16 includesan electronic switch that consumes battery power when the user operatedswitch 16 is operatively connected to the one or more batteries. Toenable selective electrical isolation of the one or more batteries so asprevent discharge of the one or more batteries via the electronicswitch, the battery life extending mechanism 12 is user reconfigurablesuch that the user can selectively electrically connect the one or morebatteries with the user operated switch 16 and electrically isolate theone or more batteries from the user operated switch 16.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the flashlight 10 in aconfiguration in which the battery assembly 20 of the flashlight 10 iselectrically isolated from the user operated switch 16. FIG. 2 alsoillustrates additional components of the flashlight 10. For example, thehousing assembly 18 includes a main body 22, an end cap 24, a headassembly 26, and the battery life extending mechanism 12. The useroperated switch 16 includes a push button 28 and a tactile switch 30that is selectively operated by user depression of the push button 28.In many embodiments, the tactile switch 30 includes electroniccomponents that may consume a small amount of power from the one or morebatteries of the battery assembly 20 when the tactile switch 30 iselectrically connected to the one or more batteries of the batteryassembly 20.

The battery assembly 20 further includes spring loaded contactassemblies 32, 34. In the illustrated embodiment, the spring loadedcontact assembly 32 is connected with to one polarity of the one or morebatteries (e.g., positive or negative) and the spring loaded contactassemblies 34 are connected to the other polarity (e.g., negative orpositive). While the illustrated embodiment of the battery assembly 20includes two of the spring loaded contact assemblies 34, a single springloaded contact assembly 34 can be used. Each of the spring loadedassemblies 32, 34 includes a conductive spring 36, 38 and a contactmember 40, 42. Each of the contact members 40, 42 partially accommodatesa respective one of the spring 36, 38. The battery assembly 20 furtherincludes a frame member 44 that interfaces with and accommodates each ofthe contact members 40, 42. Each of the contact members 40, 42 isconfigured to extend past an end face of the frame member 44 by a fixedamount when the flashlight 10 is in the configuration illustrated inFIG. 2. For example, each of the contact members 40, 42 can have afeature that interfaces with the frame member 44 so as to limit theamount that the contact member 40, 42 extends past the frame member 44under the biasing force supplied by compressive deformation of therespective spring 36, 38.

The battery assembly 20 further includes a base contact assembly 46. Thebase contact assembly 46 interfaces with each of the conductive springs36, 38 and electrically connects the conductive springs 36, 38 torespective polarities of the one or more batteries of the batteryassembly 20. When the battery assembly 20 includes two or morebatteries, the batteries can be electrically connected in any suitablefashion such as in series, in parallel, or in both series and parallel(e.g., two sets of two series connected batteries with the two setsbeing connected in parallel).

The head assembly 26 includes, the light generating element 14, anexternal housing member 48, a reflector 50, a lens 52, a lens cap 54,and an internal frame assembly 56. The reflector 50 and the lens 52 aresupported by the external housing member 48 and retained within theexternal housing member 48 via the lens cap 54, which is removablycoupled with the external housing member 48 via a threaded connection58. The internal frame assembly 56 is coupled to the external housingmember 48 via a threaded connection 60 and includes electrical contacts62, 64 that are electrically coupled with a circuit including the lightgenerating element 14 and the tactile switch 30. The electrical contact62 is centrally disposed and configured to be selectively be broughtinto contact with the contact member 40 via selective reconfiguration ofthe battery life extending mechanism 12. The electrical contact 64 isannular shaped and configured to be selectively brought into contactwith the contact members 42 via selective reconfiguration of the batterylife extending mechanism 12.

FIG. 3 illustrates relative movement between the head assembly 26 andthe housing assembly 18 that is used to reconfigure the battery lifeextending mechanism 12 between the configuration shown in FIG. 2 and theconfiguration show in FIG. 4. In the configuration shown in FIG. 2, theone or more batteries of the battery assembly 20 are electricallyisolated from the circuit including the light generating element 14 andthe tactile switch 30. In the configuration shown in FIG. 4, the one ormore batteries of the battery assembly 20 are electrically connectedwith the circuit including the light generating element 14 and thetactile switch 30. As shown in FIG. 3, the external housing member 48 iscoupled with the frame member 44 via a threaded connection 66. Byrotating the external housing member 48 relative to the frame member 44,the head assembly 26 can be controllably translated relative to theframe member 44 so as to selectively bring the centrally disposedcontact 62 and the annularly shaped contact 64 into contact with or outof contact with the spring loaded contact assemblies 32, 34.Accordingly, the flashlight 10 can be reconfigured between theconfiguration shown in FIG. 2 and the configuration shown in FIG. 4 viarelative rotation of the head assembly 26 relative to the frame member44, which is rotationally fixed relative to the main body 22.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a flashlight 100, in accordancewith many embodiments, in a configuration in which both positive andnegative terminals of a stack of batteries 102 are electrically isolatedfrom a circuit including a light emitting element 14 and a user operatedswitch controlling delivery of power from the stack of batteries 102 tothe light emitting element 14. The flashlight 100 includes a mainhousing 104, an end cap assembly 106, a head assembly 108, and adeformable member 110. The end cap assembly 106 includes an electricalcontact 112. The electrical contact 112 is electrically connected to thecircuit including the light emitting element 14 and the user operatedswitch. In the configuration shown in FIG. 5, the deformable member 110is in an extended configuration that maintains a separation gap 114between the stack of batteries 102 and the electrical contact 112. Inmany embodiments, when the flashlight 100 is in the configuration shownin FIG. 5, the deformable member 110 exerts a biasing force on the stackof batteries 102 so as to maintain contact between the stack ofbatteries 102 and a shoulder feature 116 of the main housing 104.

The head assembly 108 includes an external housing member 118, areflector 120, a lens 122, a lens cap 124, and an internal frameassembly 126. The reflector 120 and the lens 122 are supported by theexternal housing member 118 and retained within the external housingmember 118 via the lens cap 124, which is removably coupled with theexternal housing member 118 via a threaded connection 128. The internalframe assembly 126 is coupled to the external housing member 118 via athreaded connection 130 and includes an electrical contact 132 that iselectrically coupled with the circuit including the light generatingelement 14 and the user operated switch.

The head assembly 108 is selectively repositionable relative to the mainhousing 104. In the illustrated embodiment, a selective rotation 134 ofthe head assembly 108 relative to the main housing 104 can beaccomplished by a user to reposition the head assembly 108 in adirection 136. The selective rotation 134 results in repositioning ofthe head assembly 108 due to the head assembly 108 being coupled to themain housing 104 via a threaded connection 138. In the configurationillustrated in FIG. 5, the head assembly 108 is positioned relative tothe main housing 104 such that a gap exists between the stack ofbatteries 102 and the electrical contact 132. The head assembly 108 canbe coupled with the main housing 104 such that a desired amount of theselective rotation 134, for example, 45 to 180 degrees of rotation, isused to reposition the head assembly 108 from the configuration shown inFIG. 5 to the configuration shown in FIG. 6.

In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 6, the head assembly 108 ispositioned relative to the main housing 104 such the electrical contact132 is in contact with the stack of batteries 102 and the head assembly108 exerts a biasing force onto the stack of batteries 102 sufficient tocompress the deformable member 110 and to maintain contact between thestack of batteries 102 and the electrical contact 112. As can be seen bycomparing FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the head assembly 108 is repositionable soas to displace the stack of batteries 102 relative to the main housing104 sufficient to compress the deformable member 110 and bring the stackof batteries 102 into contact with the electrical contact 112. In theconfiguration shown in FIG. 6, the stack of batteries 102 is operativelyelectrically connected to the circuit including the light emittingelement 14 and the user operated switch.

In the flashlight 100, repositioning of the head assembly 108 relativeto the main housing 104 along the direction 136 is accomplished via theselective rotation 134 in combination with the threaded connection 138.Alternatively, other suitable approaches for repositioning the headassembly 108 relative to the main housing 104 along the direction 136can be used. For example, the head assembly 108 can be slideably coupledwith the main housing 104 to allow selective translation along thedirection 136 between the configurations shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. Oneor more suitable detent mechanisms can be used to prevent inadvertentrelative translation between the head assembly 108 and the main housing104 so as to selectively maintain each of the configurations shown inFIG. 5 and FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 partially illustrates a flashlight 200 that includes a useroperated mechanism 202. The user operable mechanism 202 is userreconfigurable to enable selective interruption of a circuit between oneor more batteries of the flashlight 200 and a user operated switch usedto control delivery of battery power to a light emitting element 14 ofthe flashlight 200.

FIG. 8 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the flashlight 200 in aconfiguration in which a non-conducting member 204 of the user operatedmechanism 202 separates an electrical contact 206 from a batteryterminal 208 of one or more batteries of the flashlight 200. The useroperated mechanism 202 is configured to maintain the illustratedposition of the non-conducting member 204 absent user interaction withthe mechanism 202. The electrical contact 206 is electrically connectedto a circuit including the light emitting element 14 and a user operatedswitch that controls delivery of battery power to the light emittingelement 14.

FIG. 9 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the flashlight 200 in aconfiguration in which the non-conducting member 204 of the useroperated mechanism 202 does not separate the electrical contact 206 froma battery terminal 208 of one or more batteries of the flashlight 200.The user operated mechanism 202 is configured to maintain theillustrated position of the non-conducting member 204 absent userinteraction with the mechanism 202.

Alternatively, other approaches can be used to selectively isolate oneor more batteries of a flashlight from a circuit including a lightemitting element and a user operated switch used to control delivery ofbattery power to the light emitting element. For example, an additionaluser operated switch (e.g., a simple on/off single pole, single throwelectrical switch) can be incorporated into the circuit including thelight emitting element and the user operated switch used to controldelivery of battery power to the light emitting element.

FIG. 10 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a flashlight 300 thatincludes a light emitting element, a user operable switch controllingdelivery of battery power to the light emitting element, one or morebatteries 302, a battery housing 304 and a reconfigurable mechanism 306coupled with the housing 304. The reconfigurable mechanism 306 isselectively reconfigurable to electrically isolate the one or morebatteries 302 from a circuit including the light emitting element and auser operated switch controlling delivery of battery power to the lightemitting element. The mechanism 306 includes an end cap frame 308, adeformable member 310, an electrical contact 312, and a conductivespring 314. The end cap frame 308 is coupled with the battery housing304 via a threaded connection 316.

In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 10, the one or more batteries302 are electrically connected with the circuit including the lightemitting element and the user operated switch controlling delivery ofbattery power to the light emitting element. The end cap frame 308 ispositioned relative to the housing 304 such that a sufficient separationbetween the one or more batteries 302 and the end cap exits toaccommodate a semi-compressed state of the combination of the deformablemember 310, the electrical contact 312, and the conductive spring 314 inwhich the electrical contact 312 is held in contact with an electricalcontact 318 supported by the end cap frame 308 via a biasing forceexerted on the electrical contact 312 by the deformable member 310. Theelectrical contact 318 is electrically coupled with the circuitincluding the light emitting element and the user operated switchcontrolling delivery of battery power to the light emitting element.

In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 11, the one or more batteries302 are electrically isolated from the circuit including the lightemitting element and the user operated switch controlling delivery ofbattery power to the light emitting element. The end cap frame 308 ispositioned relative to the housing 304 such that a separation betweenthe one or more batteries 302 and the end cap exits to accommodate acompressed state of the combination of the deformable member 310, theelectrical contact 312, and the conductive spring 314 in which theelectrical contact 312 is separated from the electrical contact 318supported by the end cap frame 308.

In the illustrated embodiment, repositioning the end cap frame 308relative to the battery housing 304 is accomplished via the threadedconnection 316 by rotation of the end cap frame 308 relative to thebattery housing 304. Alternatively, other suitable approaches forrepositioning the end cap frame 308 relative to the battery housing 304can be used. For example, the end cap frame 308 can be slideably coupledwith the battery housing 304 to allow selective translation between theconfigurations shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11. One or more suitable detentmechanisms can be used to prevent inadvertent relative translationbetween the end cap frame 308 and the battery housing 304 so as toselectively maintain each of the configurations shown in FIG. 10 andFIG. 11.

FIG. 12 through FIG. 15 schematically illustrate the use of relativerotation between components of a flashlight to selectively connect andisolate battery terminals, in accordance with many embodiments. FIG. 12schematically illustrates a configuration in which battery terminals 320are separated from electrical contacts 322. The electrical contacts 322are electrically connected to a circuit including a light emittingelement and a user operated switch operable to control delivery ofbattery power to the light emitting element. The batteries 324 of thebattery terminals 320 are housed within a battery housing 326. Thebattery terminals 320 are radially offset from a centerline axis of thebattery housing 326. In many embodiments, the batteries 324 arerestrained from moving radially relative to the battery housing 326. Theelectrical contacts 322 are also offset from the centerline axis of thebattery housing 326. The electrical contacts 322 are supported so as tobe selectively rotatable relative to the battery housing 326 so as toenable selective separation between the battery terminals 320 and theelectrical contacts 322 as depicted in FIG. 12 and selective engagementbetween the battery terminals 320 and the electrical contacts 322 asdepicted in FIG. 13. FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 schematically illustrate asimilar configuration as illustrated in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, but with asingle battery 324 and terminal 320 and a single electrical contact 322.

FIG. 16 shows a user worn headlamp 400 including a battery lifeextending mechanism, in accordance with many embodiments. The headlamp400 includes a main assembly 402 and a headband 404 for holding the mainassembly 402 in place on a user, such as holding the main assembly 402in place on a user's forehead. The main assembly 402 includes one ormore light emitting elements 406.

FIG. 17 shows a cross-sectional view of the main assembly 402 in aconfiguration in which one or more batteries of the headlamp 400 areelectrically connected for delivery of electrical power to the one ormore light emitting elements 406. The main assembly 402 includes ahousing 408, a battery door 410, a spring 412, and a battery cartridge414. The battery cartridge 414 houses one or more batteries and includesbattery cartridge electrical contacts 416, 418. The battery cartridgeelectrical contacts 416, 418 are electrically connected to respectivepolarities of the one or more batteries of the battery cartridge 414.The main assembly 402 includes main assembly electrical contacts 420,422. The main assembly electrical contacts 420, 422 are electricallyconnected to a circuit that includes the one or more light emittingelements 406 and a user operated switch that controls delivery ofbattery power from the battery cartridge 414 to the one or more lightemitting elements 406. In the configurations shown in FIG. 16 and FIG.17, the spring 412 exerts a biasing force onto the battery cartridge 414thereby maintaining contact between the battery cartridge 414 and thebattery door 410. The battery door 410 is coupled with the housing 408via a threaded connection 424. In the configuration illustrated in FIG.17, the battery door 410 is fully installed into the housing 408 via thethreaded connection 424, thereby aligning, and maintaining contactbetween, the battery cartridge electrical contacts 416, 418 and the mainassembly electrical contacts 420, 422. In the configuration illustratedin FIG. 18, the battery door 410 is partially installed into the housing408 via the threaded connection 424, thereby misaligning, andmaintaining separation between, the battery cartridge electricalcontacts 416, 418 and the main assembly electrical contacts 420, 422. Bypartially installing the battery door 410 as illustrated in theconfiguration illustrated in FIG. 18, parasitic draining of power fromthe battery cartridge 414 can be prevented during an extended period oftime between usages of the headlamp 400.

FIG. 19 and FIG. 20 show simplified cross-sectional schematicillustrations of a flashlight 500, in accordance with many embodiments.The flashlight 500 is configured to electrically isolate a batteryassembly 504 when the flashlight 500 is off to inhibit parasitic drainof the battery assembly 504. In the illustrated embodiment, theflashlight 500 includes a housing 502, the battery cartridge 504, auser-operated switching mechanism 506, an articulable positive contact508, an articulable negative contact 510, and a light generating element512. Any suitable light generating element(s) (e.g., a light emittingdiode(s) (LED(s)) can be used as the light generating element 512. Thebattery cartridge 504 is configured to accommodate a plurality ofbatteries 514. In the illustrated embodiment, the batteries 514 areserially coupled to generate a resulting voltage that is output from thebattery cartridge 504 to operate the flashlight 500. The batterycartridge 504 includes a positive terminal 516 and a negative terminal518. The battery cartridge 504 includes a positive voltage path 519 thatelectrically couples the positive terminal 516 with a positive terminalof one of the batteries 514. The battery cartridge includes a negativevoltage path 520 that electrically couples the negative terminal 518with a negative terminal of another of the batteries 514. In theillustrated embodiment, the positive terminal 516 and the negativeterminal 518 are disposed at one end of the battery cartridge 504,thereby helping to simplify the configuration of the flashlight 500 withrespect to articulation of the articulable positive and negativecontacts 508, 510.

The user-operated switching mechanism 506 is drivingly coupled with thearticulable positive contact 508 and the articulable negative contact510 for reconfiguring the flashlight 500 between the “off” configurationillustrated in FIG. 19 and the “on” configuration illustrated in FIG.20. In the illustrated embodiment, the articulable positive contact 508is supported via a first conductive spring assembly 522 and thearticulable negative contact 510 is supported via a second conductivespring assembly 524. The light generating element 512 is electricallyconnected with the first conductive spring assembly 522 via a firstconductive path 526 and the second conductive spring assembly 524 via asecond conductive path 528. In the illustrated embodiment, theuser-operated switching mechanism 506 includes a sliding member 530 thatcan be slid by a user between an off position (off) as shown in FIG. 19and an on position (on) as shown in FIG. 20. When the sliding member 530is moved from the on position shown in FIG. 20 to the off position shownin FIG. 19, the user-operating switching mechanism 506 displaces thepositive and negative contacts 508, 510 away from the positive andnegative terminals 516, 518, thereby separating and electricallydisconnecting the positive contact 508 from the positive terminal 516and the negative contact 510 from the negative terminal 518. In theconfiguration illustrated in FIG. 19, the battery cartridge 504 iselectrically isolated, thereby inhibiting parasitic drain of thebatteries 514. When the sliding member 530 is moved from the offposition shown in FIG. 19 to the on position shown in FIG. 20, theuser-operating switching mechanism 506 reconfigures to accommodatemovement of the positive and negative contacts 508, 510 towards thepositive and negative terminals 516, 518, thereby allowing the firstconductive spring assembly 522 to move the positive contact 508 intocontact with the positive terminal 516 and allowing the secondconductive spring assembly 524 to move the negative contact 510 intocontact with the negative terminal 518. In the configuration illustratedin FIG. 20, the light generating element 512 is electrically coupledwith the battery cartridge 504 and powered by electrical current fromthe batteries 514.

FIG. 21 and FIG. 22 show simplified cross-sectional schematicillustrations of a flashlight 550, in accordance with many embodiments.The flashlight 550 is configured to electrically isolate a batteryassembly 554 when the flashlight 550 is off to inhibit parasitic drainof the battery assembly 554. The flashlight 550 is configured similar tothe flashlight 500, but does not include the conductive springassemblies 522, 524. In the illustrated embodiment, the flashlight 550includes the housing 502, the battery cartridge 554, a user-operatedswitching mechanism 556, an articulable positive contact 558, anarticulable negative contact 560, and the light generating element 512.Any suitable light generating element(s) (e.g., a light emittingdiode(s) (LED(s)) can be used as the light generating element 512. Thebattery cartridge 554 is configured to accommodate a plurality ofbatteries 514. In the illustrated embodiment, the batteries 514 areserially coupled to generate a resulting voltage that is output from thebattery cartridge 554 to operate the flashlight 550. The batterycartridge 554 includes a positive terminal 566 and a negative terminal568. The battery cartridge 554 includes a positive voltage path 569 thatelectrically couples the positive terminal 566 with a positive terminalof one of the batteries 514. The battery cartridge includes a negativevoltage path 570 that electrically couples the negative terminal 568with a negative terminal of another of the batteries 514. In theillustrated embodiment, the positive terminal 566 and the negativeterminal 568 are disposed at one end of the battery cartridge 554,thereby helping to simplify the configuration of the flashlight 550 withrespect to articulation of the articulable positive and negativecontacts 558, 560.

The user-operated switching mechanism 556 is drivingly coupled with thearticulable positive contact 558 and the articulable negative contact560 for reconfiguring the flashlight 550 between the “off” configurationillustrated in FIG. 21 and the “on” configuration illustrated in FIG.22. In the illustrated embodiment, the light generating element 512 iselectrically connected with the articulable positive contact 558 via afirst conductive path 572 and with the articulable negative contact 560via a second conductive path 574. In the illustrated embodiment, theuser-operated switching mechanism 556 includes a sliding member 580 thatcan be slid between an off position as shown in FIG. 21 and an onposition as shown in FIG. 22. When the sliding member 580 is moved fromthe off position shown in FIG. 21 to the on position shown in FIG. 22,the user-operating switching mechanism 556 displaces the positive andnegative contacts 558, 560 into contact with the positive and negativeterminals 566, 568, thereby electrically connecting the light generatingelement 512 with the battery cartridge 554 to power the light generatingelement 512 via electrical power output by the battery cartridge 554.When the sliding member 580 is moved from the on position shown in FIG.22 to the off position shown in FIG. 21, the user-operating switchingmechanism 556 displaces the positive and negative contacts 558, 560 awayfrom the positive and negative terminals 566, 568, thereby separatingand electrically disconnecting the positive contact 558 from thepositive terminal 566 and the negative contact 560 from the negativeterminal 568. In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 22, the batterycartridge 554 is electrically isolated, thereby inhibiting parasiticdrain of the batteries 514.

FIG. 23 shows an exterior view of an embodiment of the flashlight 500,550 in the off configuration. In the illustrated embodiment, a batteryisolation symbol 532 is visible when the sliding member 530, 580 is inthe off position and is covered by the sliding member 530, 580 when thesliding member 530, 580 is in the on position. In a similar manner, theflashlight 500, 550 can include a suitable “on” symbol that is visiblewhen the sliding member 530, 580 is in the on position and covered bythe sliding member 530, 580 when the sliding member 530, 580 is in theoff position.

FIG. 24, FIG. 25, and FIG. 26 schematically illustrate a flashlight 600that includes a user-operated switching mechanism 606 operable toelectrically isolate the battery cartridge 504 when the flashlight 600is off and select an operational mode for the flashlight 600 when theflashlight 600 is on, in accordance with many embodiments. Some of thecomponents of the flashlight 600 are the same or similar to thecomponents of the flashlight 500 and are labeled with the same referencenumbers. The description of these common or similar components set forthherein with respect to the flashlight 500 are applicable to theflashlight 600 and are therefore not repeated here. The flashlight 600can be configured similar to the flashlight 550 with respect toarticulation of contacts to selectively isolate the battery cartridge554.

In the illustrated embodiment, the flashlight 600 includes the housing502, the battery cartridge 504, the user-operated switching mechanism606, the articulable positive contact 508, the articulable negativecontact 510, and the light generating element 512. The flashlight 600further includes a control unit 608 (e.g., a suitable control circuit)that is operatively coupled with the positive and negative contacts 508,510 via conductive paths 610, 612 and the conductive spring assemblies522, 524, the user-operated switching mechanism 606 via conductive paths614, 616, and the light generating element 512 via conductive paths 618,620. The control unit 608 is configured to control supply of electricalpower to the light generating element 512 to operate the lightgenerating element 512 in an operational mode selected via theuser-operated switching mechanism 606.

The user-operated switching mechanism 606 is drivingly coupled with thearticulable positive contact 508 and the articulable negative contact510 for reconfiguring the flashlight 600 between the “off” configurationillustrated in FIG. 24 and the on configurations (1), (2) illustrated inFIG. 25 and FIG. 26, respectively. In the illustrated embodiment, theuser-operated switching mechanism 606 includes a sliding member 630 thatcan be slid between an off position (off) as shown in FIG. 24, the onposition (1) shown in FIG. 25, and the on position (2) shown in FIG. 26.When the sliding member 630 is moved to the off position shown in FIG.24, the user-operating switching mechanism 606 displaces the positiveand negative contacts 508, 510 away from the positive and negativeterminals 516, 518, thereby separating and electrically disconnectingthe positive contact 508 from the positive terminal 516 and the negativecontact 510 from the negative terminal 518. In the configurationillustrated in FIG. 24, the battery cartridge 504 is electricallyisolated, thereby inhibiting parasitic drain of the batteries 514. Whenthe sliding member 630 is moved from the off position shown in FIG. 24to the on position (1) shown in FIG. 25, the user-operating switchingmechanism 606 reconfigures to accommodate movement of the positive andnegative contacts 508, 510 towards the positive and negative terminals516, 518, thereby allowing the first conductive spring assembly 522 tomove the positive contact 508 into contact with the positive terminal516 and allowing the second conductive spring assembly 524 to move thenegative contact 510 into contact with the negative terminal 518. In theconfiguration illustrated in FIG. 25, the light generating element 512is electrically coupled with the battery cartridge 504 and is operatedin a first operational mode (e.g., a low intensity operation of thelight generating element 512) via electrical current from the batteries514. When the sliding member 630 is moved from the on position (1) shownin FIG. 25 to the on position (2) shown in FIG. 26, the user-operatedswitching mechanism 606 continues to accommodate contact between thepositive and negative contacts 508, 510 and the positive and negativeterminals 516, 518 and the operational mode of the flashlight is changedto a second operational mode (e.g., high intensity operation of thelight generating element 512). In the illustrated embodiment, theuser-operated switching mechanism 606 is configured to indicate theselected operational mode to the control unit 608 via the conductivepaths 614, 616. For example, the control unit 608 can output a signalvoltage to the user-operated switching mechanism 606 via the conductivepath 614 and the user-operated switching mechanism 606 can include aswitch that electrically connects the conductive path 616 to theconductive path 614 when the sliding member is in the on position (2)and opens to electrically isolate the conductive path 616 from theconductive path 614 when the sliding member 630 is in the on position(1).

FIG. 27 shows an exterior view of an embodiment of the flashlight 600 inthe off configuration of FIG. 24. In the illustrated embodiment, abattery isolation symbol 632 is visible when the sliding member 630 isin the off position and is covered by the sliding member 630 when thesliding member 630 is in each of the on positions (1), (2). In a similarmanner, the flashlight 600 can include suitable on symbols, each ofwhich can be visible when the sliding member 630 is in the correspondingposition and covered by the sliding member 630 when the sliding member630 is in the off position.

FIG. 28 and FIG. 29 schematically illustrate a flashlight 700 thatincludes a first user-operated switching mechanism 702 operable toelectrically isolate the battery cartridge 504 when the flashlight 700is off and a second user-operable switching mechanism 704 operable toselect an operational mode for the flashlight 700 when the flashlight700 is on, in accordance with many embodiments. Some of the componentsof the flashlight 700 are the same or similar to the components of theflashlight 500 and are labeled with the same reference numbers. Thedescription of these common or similar components set forth herein withrespect to the flashlight 500 are applicable to the flashlight 700 andare therefore not repeated here. The flashlight 700 can be configuredsimilar to the flashlight 550 with respect to articulation of contactsto selectively isolate the battery cartridge 554.

In the illustrated embodiment, the flashlight 700 includes the housing502, the battery cartridge 504, the first user-operated switchingmechanism 702, the second user-operated switching mechanism 704, thearticulable positive contact 508, the articulable negative contact 510,and the light generating element 512. The flashlight 700 furtherincludes a control unit 706 (e.g., a suitable control circuit) that isoperatively coupled with the positive and negative contacts 508, 510 viaconductive paths 708, 710 and the conductive spring assemblies 522, 524,the second user-operated switching mechanism 706 via conductive paths712, 714, and the light generating element 512 via conductive paths 716,718. The control unit 706 is configured to control supply of electricalpower to the light generating element 512 to operate the lightgenerating element 512 in an operational mode selected via the seconduser-operated switching mechanism 704.

The first user-operated switching mechanism 702 is drivingly coupledwith the articulable positive contact 508 and the articulable negativecontact 510 for reconfiguring the flashlight 700 between the “off”configuration illustrated in FIG. 28 and the “on” configurationillustrated in FIG. 29. In the illustrated embodiment, the firstuser-operated switching mechanism 702 includes a sliding member 720 thatcan be slid between an off position as shown in FIG. 28 and the onposition shown in FIG. 29. When the sliding member 720 is moved to theoff position shown in FIG. 28, the first user-operating switchingmechanism 702 displaces the positive and negative contacts 508, 510 awayfrom the positive and negative terminals 516, 518, thereby separatingand electrically disconnecting the positive contact 508 from thepositive terminal 516 and the negative contact 510 from the negativeterminal 518. In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 28, the batterycartridge 504 is electrically isolated, thereby inhibiting parasiticdrain of the batteries 514. When the sliding member 720 is moved fromthe off position shown in FIG. 28 to the on position shown in FIG. 29,the first user-operating switching mechanism 702 reconfigures toaccommodate movement of the positive and negative contacts 508, 510towards the positive and negative terminals 516, 518, thereby allowingthe first conductive spring assembly 522 to move the positive contact508 into contact with the positive terminal 516 and allowing the secondconductive spring assembly 524 to move the negative contact 510 intocontact with the negative terminal 518.

In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 29, the light generatingelement 512 is electrically coupled with the battery cartridge 504 andis operated in an operational mode selected via the second user-operatedswitching mechanism 704. For example, the second user-operated switchingmechanism 704 can be configured to enable selection between a lowintensity operation of the light generating element 512 and a highintensity operation of the light generating element 512. In theillustrated embodiment, the second user-operated switching mechanism 704is configured to indicate the selected operational mode to the controlunit 706 via the conductive paths 712, 714. For example, the controlunit 706 can output a signal voltage to the second user-operatedswitching mechanism 704 via the conductive path 712 and the seconduser-operated switching mechanism 704 can include a switch thatelectrically connects the conductive path 714 to the conductive path 712when a second operational mode is selected via the second user-operatedswitching mechanism 704 and opens to electrically isolate the conductivepath 714 from the conductive path 712 when a first operational mode isselected via the second user-operated switching mechanism 704. Asanother example, the second user-operated switching mechanism 704 can beconfigured to enable selection of any desired intensity of operation ofthe light generating element 512 in a range of intensities (e.g., zerointensity to a high intensity) and to vary the voltage outputted to thecontrol unit 706 via the conductive path 714 in accordance with theselected intensity of operation.

FIG. 30 shows an exterior view of an embodiment of the flashlight 700 inthe off configuration of FIG. 28. In the illustrated embodiment, abattery isolation symbol 532 is visible when the sliding member 720 isin the off position and is covered by the sliding member 720 when thesliding member 720 is in the on position. In a similar manner, theflashlight 700 can include a suitable on symbols that is visible whenthe sliding member 720 is in the on position and covered by the slidingmember 720 when the sliding member 720 is in the off position. In theillustrated embodiment, the second user-operated switching mechanism 704includes a selection member 722 that is rotatable around a longitudinalaxis of the flashlight 700 to enable selection of any desired intensityof operation of the light generating element 512 in a range ofintensities from zero intensity mode of operation (i.e., off) of thelight generating element 512 to a high intensity mode of operation ofthe light generating element 512.

FIG. 31 and FIG. 32 schematically illustrate a flashlight 800 thatincludes a first user-operated switching mechanism 802 operable toelectrically isolate the battery cartridge 504 when the flashlight 800is off and a mode-selection button 804 operable to select an operationalmode for the flashlight 800 when the flashlight 800 is on, in accordancewith many embodiments. Some of the components of the flashlight 800 arethe same or similar to the components of the flashlight 500 and arelabeled with the same reference numbers. The description of these commonor similar components set forth herein with respect to the flashlight500 are applicable to the flashlight 800 and are therefore not repeatedhere. The flashlight 800 can be configured similar to the flashlight 550with respect to articulation of contacts to selectively isolate thebattery cartridge 554.

In the illustrated embodiment, the flashlight 800 includes the housing502, the battery cartridge 504, the first user-operated switchingmechanism 802, the mode-selection button 804, the articulable positivecontact 508, the articulable negative contact 510, and the lightgenerating element 512. The flashlight 800 further includes a controlunit 806 (e.g., a suitable control circuit) that is operatively coupledwith the positive and negative contacts 508, 510 via conductive paths808, 810 and the conductive spring assemblies 522, 524, themode-selection button 804 via conductive paths 812, 814, and the lightgenerating element 512 via conductive paths 816, 818. The control unit806 is configured to control supply of electrical power to the lightgenerating element 512 to operate the light generating element 512 in anoperational mode selected via the mode-selection button 804.

The first user-operated switching mechanism 802 is drivingly coupledwith the articulable positive contact 508 and the articulable negativecontact 510 for reconfiguring the flashlight 800 between the “off”configuration illustrated in FIG. 31 and the “on” configurationillustrated in FIG. 32. In the illustrated embodiment, the firstuser-operated switching mechanism 802 includes a sliding member 820 thatcan be slid by a user between the off position illustrated in FIG. 31and the on position illustrated in FIG. 32. When the sliding member 820is moved to the off position illustrated in FIG. 31, the firstuser-operating switching mechanism 802 displaces the positive andnegative contacts 508, 510 away from the positive and negative terminals516, 518, thereby separating and electrically disconnecting the positivecontact 508 from the positive terminal 516 and the negative contact 510from the negative terminal 518. In the configuration illustrated in FIG.31, the battery cartridge 504 is electrically isolated, therebyinhibiting parasitic drain of the batteries 514. When the sliding member820 is moved from the off position shown in FIG. 32 to the on positionshown in FIG. 31, the first user-operating switching mechanism 802reconfigures to accommodate movement of the positive and negativecontacts 508, 510 towards the positive and negative terminals 516, 518,thereby allowing the first conductive spring assembly 522 to move thepositive contact 508 into contact with the positive terminal 516 andallowing the second conductive spring assembly 524 to move the negativecontact 510 into contact with the negative terminal 518.

In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 32, the light generatingelement 512 is electrically coupled with the battery cartridge 504 andis operated in an operational mode selected via the mode-selectionbutton 804. For example, the mode-selection button 804 can be configuredto enable a user to cycle through a plurality of different operationalmodes (e.g., off, low intensity, high intensity, strobe) for the lightgenerating element 512. In the illustrated embodiment, themode-selection button 804 is configured to indicate the selectedoperational mode to the control unit 806 via the conductive paths 812,814. For example, the control unit 806 can output a signal voltage tothe mode-selection button 804 via the conductive path 812 and themode-selection button 704 can output a voltage to the control unit 806in accordance with the selected operational mode.

FIG. 33 shows an exterior view of an embodiment of the flashlight 800 inthe on configuration of FIG. 32. In the illustrated embodiment, themode-selection button 804 is accessible when the sliding member 820 isin the on position and is covered by the sliding member 820 when thesliding member 820 is in the off position. In a similar manner, theflashlight 800 can include a suitable “off” symbol that is visible whenthe sliding member 820 is in the off position and covered by the slidingmember 820 when the sliding member 820 is in the on position.

Other variations are within the spirit of the present invention. Thus,while the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof areshown in the drawings and have been described above in detail. It shouldbe understood, however, that there is no intention to limit theinvention to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary,the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions,and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, asdefined in the appended claims.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in thecontext of describing the invention (especially in the context of thefollowing claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and theplural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted bycontext. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing”are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, butnot limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The term “connected” is to beconstrued as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joinedtogether, even if there is something intervening. Recitation of rangesof values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method ofreferring individually to each separate value falling within the range,unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value isincorporated into the specification as if it were individually recitedherein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitableorder unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearlycontradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplarylanguage (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to betterilluminate embodiments of the invention and does not pose a limitationon the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language inthe specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimedelement as essential to the practice of the invention.

Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, includingthe best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention.Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to thoseof ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. Theinventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations asappropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practicedotherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, thisinvention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subjectmatter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicablelaw. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in allpossible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unlessotherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

All references, including publications, patent applications, andpatents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the sameextent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicatedto be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entiretyherein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A lighting device comprising: a housingconfigured to accommodate a battery assembly that includes one or morebatteries; a light generating element supported by the housing; and afirst switching mechanism including an articulable positive contact andan articulable negative contact, the first switching mechanism beingconfigurable by a user to: (a) a first configuration in which thepositive contact contacts a positive terminal of the battery assembly,the negative contact contacts a negative terminal of the batteryassembly, and the light generating element is electrically coupled withthe articulable positive contact and the articulable negative contact toreceive electric power from the battery assembly to generate light; and(b) a second configuration in which the positive contact is separatedfrom the positive terminal and the negative contact is separated fromthe negative terminal to electrically isolate the battery assembly. 2.The lighting device of claim 1, further comprising a control unitoperatively coupled with the light generating element, the control unitbeing configured to control supply of electrical power to the lightgenerating element to operate the light generating element in a firstoperational mode when the first switching mechanism is in the firstconfiguration.
 3. The lighting device of claim 2, wherein: the firstswitching mechanism is configurable by the user to a third configurationin which the articulable positive contact contacts the positive terminalof the battery assembly, the articulable negative contact contacts thenegative terminal of the battery assembly, and the light generatingelement is electrically coupled with the articulable positive contactand the articulable negative contact to receive electric power from thebattery assembly to generate light; and the control unit is configuredto control supply of electrical power to the light generating element tooperate the light generating element in a second operational mode whenthe first switching mechanism is in the third configuration, the secondoperational mode being different than the first operational mode.
 4. Thelighting device of claim 1, further comprising: a second switchingmechanism operable by the user to select an operational mode of thelight generating element when the first switching mechanism is in thefirst configuration; and a control unit operatively coupled with thelight generating element, the control unit being configured to controlsupply of electrical power to the light generating element to operatethe light generating element in an operational mode selected by the uservia the second switching mechanism.
 5. The lighting device of claim 4,wherein the second switching mechanism comprises a selection member thatis rotatable relative to the housing by the user to select theoperational mode.
 6. The lighting device of claim 4, wherein the secondswitching mechanism comprises a mode selection button operativelycoupled with the control unit and operable by the user to cycle througha plurality of operational modes for the light generating element. 7.The lighting device of claim 6, wherein the first switching mechanismblocks operation of the mode selection button by the user when in thesecond configuration and accommodates operation of the mode selectionbutton by the user when in the first configuration.
 8. The lightingdevice of claim 1, wherein: the battery assembly comprises a batterycartridge configured to accommodate a plurality of batteries; and thebattery cartridge includes the positive terminal of the batteryassembly, a positive voltage path configured to electrically connect thepositive terminal of the battery assembly with a positive terminal ofthe plurality of batteries, the negative terminal of the batteryassembly, and a negative voltage path configured to electrically connectthe negative terminal of the battery assembly with a negative terminalof the plurality of batteries.
 9. The lighting device of claim 8,wherein the battery cartridge is configured to accommodate the pluralityof batteries in a serially-connected configuration to generate aresulting voltage used to operate the light generating element.
 10. Thelighting device of claim 9, wherein the positive terminal of the batteryassembly and the negative terminal of the battery assembly are disposedat one end of the battery cartridge.
 11. A method for electricallyisolating a battery assembly of a lighting device to inhibit parasiticdrain of the battery assembly, the method comprising: maintainingcontact between an articulable positive contact and a positive terminalof the battery assembly while a first user-operable switching mechanismof the lighting device is in a first configuration, the firstuser-operable switching mechanism being drivingly coupled with thearticulable positive contact, the articulable positive contact beingelectrically connected with a light generating element of the lightingdevice; maintaining contact between an articulable negative contact anda negative terminal of the battery assembly while the firstuser-operable switching mechanism is in the first configuration, thefirst user-operable switching mechanism being drivingly coupled with thearticulable negative contact, the articulable negative contact beingelectrically connected with a light generating element of the lightingdevice; and separating the articulable positive contact from thepositive terminal of the battery assembly and the articulable negativecontact from the negative terminal of the battery assembly toelectrically isolate the battery assembly in response to reconfigurationof the first user-operable switching mechanism from the firstconfiguration to a second configuration.
 12. The method of claim 11,further comprising controlling, via a control unit included in thelighting device, supply of electrical power to the light generatingelement to operate the light generating element in a first operationalmode when the first user-operable switching mechanism is in the firstconfiguration.
 13. The method of claim 12, further comprisingcontrolling, via the control unit, supply of electrical power to thelight generating element to operate the light generating element in asecond operational mode when the first user-operable switching mechanismis in a third configuration in which the articulable positive contactcontacts a positive terminal of the battery assembly and the articulablenegative contact contacts a negative terminal of the battery assembly,the second operational mode being different from the first operationalmode.
 14. The method of claim 11, further comprising controlling, via acontrol unit operatively coupled with a second user-operable switchingmechanism, supply of electrical power to the light generating element tooperate the light generating element in an operational mode selected viathe second user-operable switching mechanism.
 15. The method of claim14, further comprising outputting a signal from the second user-operableswitching mechanism to the control unit corresponding to a rotationalorientation of a selection member of the second user-operable switchingmechanism, the signal being indicative of the selected operational mode.16. The method of claim 14, wherein the second user-operable switchingmechanism includes a mode selection button, the method furthercomprising outputting a signal from the mode selection button to thecontrol unit corresponding to a selected operational mode for operatingthe light generating element, the mode selection button being operableto cycle through a plurality of operational modes for the lightgenerating element.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:blocking operational access to the mode selection button when the firstuser-operable switching mechanism is in the second configuration; andaccommodating operational access to the mode selection button when thefirst user-operable switching mechanism is in the first configuration.18. The method of claim 11, further comprising: accommodating a batterycartridge within the lighting device, the battery cartridge beingconfigured to accommodate a plurality of batteries and including thepositive terminal of the battery assembly and the negative terminal ofthe battery assembly; electrically coupling the positive terminal of thebattery assembly with a positive terminal of the plurality of batteries;and electrically coupling the negative terminal of the battery assemblywith a negative terminal of the plurality of batteries.
 19. The methodof claim 18, wherein the battery cartridge housing is configured toaccommodate the plurality of batteries in a serially-connectedconfiguration to generate a resulting voltage used to operate the lightgenerating element.
 20. The method of claim 19, further comprisingsupporting the positive terminal of the battery assembly and thenegative terminal of the battery assembly at one end of the batterycartridge.